United recently unveiled a new program on its Polaris business class cabin that allows passengers to craft their own wine flights. Juicy and spicy Paranga Red and Moscofilero Skouras are two of the wines that passengers can choose from the airline’s inflight list and enhance their dining experience.

Aromatic and with an expressive character of red fruit and spicy notes, the 2014 Paranga is a rich and refreshing wine, meant to be enjoyed on its own but also as an ideal companion to food.

2015 Moscofilero of Domaine Skouras is an explosive on the nose wine, full of white flowers, crisp and refreshing excellent as an aperitif wine and excellent as companion to sea food.

Greek Wine Varieties

Xinomavro (“acid and black” in Greek) is one of the world’s rarest noble red grapes originating from Northwestern Greece. When harvested from the cool-climate area of Amyndeon, it shows a fruiter, softer character compared to the grapes harvested in the area of Naoussa. Apart from Xinomavro that has been cultivated in the area for centuries, this part of Greece is ideal for growing most of the international varieties.

Moscofilero is one of the most famous Greek varieties originated from the plateau of Mantinia at about 700 mt (2100ft) of altitude in the center of Peloponnese. Harvested in October, it shows a rich aromatic character with refreshing acidity. Peloponnese is a historical region to growing Greek grape varieties.

The wines at United Polaris were chosen in consultation with Doug Frost, Master of Wine and Master Sommelier and a Greek wine enthusiast. They were selected through a vigorous vetting process from wines from around the world and was facilitated by the US importer Diamond Importers. The presence of two Greek wines on the list shows the airline’s trust to the indigenous varieties.

United Polaris Wine Flights

“We are excited that a Kir-Yianni wine is listed by United Airlines. It is the first time that United features Greek wines” says Stellios Boutaris, winemaker and CEO of Ktima Kir-Yianni. Mr. Skouras, winemaker and CEO of Domaine Skouras adds: “It seems that Greek wine is reaching completely new heights and we are very happy that oenophile travellers and wine connoisseurs are certainly significant enough for airlines to pay attention to their interest to try new and exciting wines.”